Apr 18, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (30) against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at the Wells Fargo Center. The Devils defeated the Flyers, 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Keep the tigers away, Ilya Bryzgalov may soon be one of the new millionaires in Sin City.
Steve Whyno tweets that Bryz is close to singing a contract with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. His reasoning, perhaps to show he can still play at an elite level, but if you ask me, it’s because the recently bought out keeper is looking for something to do with his new cash flow.
According to CBS Sports, the Philadelphia Flyers will be paying Bryzgalov approximately $1.6 million a year for the next 14 years. Where better to throw it all away then in Vegas?
Part of me is bummed that we won’t be hearing some of his hilarious, out of left-field quotes on HBO this winter. But as Bryz would say “Don’t worry be happy right now.”
Instead of being known for his play between the pipes, we’ll only remember his cosmic rant on how small our galaxy is in comparison to the universe. His “Slapshot-esque” approach to describing the game of hockey might be all he has left to offer Las Vegas, but that might just be what the Wranglers are looking for.
Imagine the stories we’ll read about after a weekend of hanging with Siegfried and Roy. The Wrangler’s could care less what he does in net, they just want to see how many “Siberian Huskies” with beautiful blue eyes come to see their dream man play.
Apr 18, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (30) carries his broken stick off the ice against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at the Wells Fargo Center. The Devils defeated the Flyers, 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
In a world where “weirdos” and “nut-jobs” are glorified in the news and in pop culture, the Wrangler’s are putting their marbles in the man who lost his a long time ago. I’ve got a “hundo” on a picture of him, Charlie Sheen and Miley Cyrus ending up on twitter. Perhaps on the first episode of “Show Bryz: Ballin’ in Vegas.” (New reality TV show?)
As Bryzgalov would say “I love it. Sometimes I hate it… I don’t want to be goalie now.”
Well, now he’s getting his wish. Bryz will be welcomed in Vegas not for his quick glove hand, but for his great sound bytes. He’ll be everything but a goalie to them. He’ll be a regular with the potential of turning Sin City superstar. He’ll fit right in.
As for his return to the NHL, no matter how you spin it — won’t be happening. That’s just the reasoning he’ll use to hide why he’s really signing with the Wranglers, because only in Vegas can you get away with comparing hot girls to huskies.
The best has yet to come.
Sep 18, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy calls out from his bench in the first period of a preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
As for who to look for your on and off ice antics, Patrick Roy takes seems to already be the favorite. In case you didn’t see his rant last night.
What were some of your favorite quotes from Bryzgalov? Leave your favorites below. Here’s 10 of the best.